Compact cabin

ABSTRACT

There is provided a compact cabin which combines (a) sterilization, such as with a pulverized spraying apparatus, (b) hair and body drying, such as with a mechanical ventilation system that gives pressurized hot air to the hair and body, (c) shower and massage, such as with a pressurized water mechanism, (d) swimsuit drying, such as with a mini swimsuit dryer, and/or (e) skincare, such as with ultraviolet light. The system combines all the activities between changing clothes and showering in an efficient, fast and healthy way.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Canadian Patent Application No. 3,089,755, entitled “COMPACT CABIN,” which was filed on Aug. 7, 2020, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

There is provided a compact cabin for using before and after activities, such as swimming or sports. In particular, the cabin provides safe and hygienic shower and change spaces, while saving time.

BACKGROUND

Currently, there are products used for only a shower or only as a disinfected cabin or only a dressing room. There is no known product for including hygiene principles and actions in one system before preparation and afterwards in a compact space.

Existing systems are used separately and take up a large space. When a user passes from one section to another section, hygiene conditions fall into decay. Users lose time while using sections separately, also they sometimes must join queues in different spots.

FIGS. 1A to 1E set forth various prior art cabins. In FIG. 1A there is shown a typical swimsuit dryer, provided to users within a common change area at a swimming pool. FIG. 1B shows typical disinfection cabins that are available to the public in public spaces. FIG. 1C shows a mobile shower cabin and toiletry, provided in separate rooms that must be accessed through external doors. Such cabins could be provided at a beach, for example. FIG. 1D shows typical shower stalls that are provided in swimming pool areas. These areas must be entered through individual doors and are typically separate from the change rooms. FIG. 1E shows example changerooms of the type provided at public swimming pools or beaches.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided a compact cabin which combines multiple functions, for example (a) sterilization, such as with a pulverized spraying apparatus, (b) hair and body drying, such as with a mechanical ventilation system that gives pressurized hot air to the hair and body, (c) shower and massage, such as with a pressurized water mechanism, (d) swimsuit drying, such as with a mini swimsuit dryer, and (e) skincare, such as with ultraviolet light. The system combines all the activities between changing clothes and showering in an efficient, fast and healthy way.

In one aspect there is provided a cabin, comprising: a first enclosed area containing a dry space; a second enclosed area connected to the first area through a door and providing a shower area; and a control system for controlling settings of the cabin. The control system may control one or more of shower settings, disinfection use, UV settings, air dryer settings, swimsuit dryer, shampoo quantity limits, conditioner quantity limits, body wash quantity limits, massage settings and ventilation. The first enclosed area may comprise one or more of a swimsuit dryer, hairdryer, clothes hanger, mirror and hinged wooden seat. The second enclosed area may comprise one or more of a shampoo dispenser, conditioner dispenser and bodywash dispenser.

The second enclosed area may also comprise other features, such as one or more air nozzles, wherein the control system controls the settings of the air nozzles. The second enclosed area may comprise one or more disinfection spray nozzles, wherein the control system controls the settings of the disinfection spray nozzles.

The first enclosed area and/or second enclosed area may comprise a perforated floor, which may be made of metal or some other suitable material.

In one aspect, there is provided a door separating the first enclosed area from the second enclosed area.

In a further aspect, there is provided a disinfection system comprising disinfection tubes, a disinfection unit containing disinfectant and disinfectant nozzles.

In yet a further aspect, there is provided one or more evacuation tubes. There may also be provided a ceiling fan.

In yet a further aspect, there is provided a water dispensing system comprising water tubes, ceiling shower nozzles, and wall shower nozzles.

In yet a further aspect, the cabin may have a hollow perimeter wall encompassing a portion of the perimeter of the cabin, the wall comprising studs, an interior wall, an exterior wall and tubes for transporting water, air and/or disinfectant through to the nozzles in the interior wall. The interior wall and/or exterior wall may be made of metal or some other suitable material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be further understood from the following description with reference to the attached drawings.

FIGS. 1A to 1E show prior art cabin system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a top plan view of one aspect of the cabin;

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one aspect of the cabin;

FIG. 4 illustrates two perspective cross-sectional views of one aspect of the cabin; and

FIG. 5 illustrates stages of a user entering and using the cabin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A particular embodiment of the present disclosure will be set forth in detail with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements or method steps throughout.

In one aspect, there is provided a cabin that combines functions such as a changing room, disinfection area, and swimsuit dryer in one space while remaining healthy and time saving for people in activities such as sports, beauty salons, massage services and swimming activities.

In a further aspect, the cabin has two types, one for mobile people and a second that is accessible for disabled people.

In one example use, a user desiring to change clothes opens a first door of the pre-changing area and enters the first area or compartment. Clothes may be hung on hangers that may be specially designed. The user then enters the shower area or compartment by opening a second door. In this area, the person may shower with water emerging from the walls and ceiling. After showering, disinfectant may be pulverized from the floor, walls and ceiling. The person re-enters the first area to change into a swimsuit and gather clothes and is then shown to an assigned locker. After sports, swimming, Hamam, sauna and other activities the user again gathers clothes from the lockers and re-enters the cabin from the first door. A user may place the wet swimming suit in the dryer, place their clothes on the hanger and pass to the shower area using the second door and closing the door. In this manner, the clothes do not get wet. The user showers with pressurized water coming from the walls and ceiling that can be heat adjusted. Afterwards, pressurized hot air comes from the ceiling, floor and walls so the user may dry from head to toe. When all the showering and drying is finished, the user re-enters the first area to don their clothes and obtain their already-dry swimming suit. During the time a user is in the cabin, an ultraviolet light may also be used in the first area and/or the shower area.

In a variation of the present invention, the cabin may be provided in a different version that is accessible for disabled or handicap people, such as in a wider size with grab bars at appropriate locations and accessible seats in one or both compartments. A ramp may be provided for a user to enter the first compartment.

In prior solutions, users would carry their swimsuit after changing into their regular clothing. One aspect of the present invention sets forth a swimsuit dryer which is a way to sterilize the swimsuit while the user is showering and changing. The swimsuit is thus ready for carrying while a user is having a shower and drying.

The present invention has many different uses. For example, the cabin can be used in all types of sports, swimming, spa and hammam centers, or other types of public areas. The cabin could also be used during the construction of buildings for use by the construction workers or those on site.

Many variations exist in this design. For example, the combination and location of features and spaces can be varied. As an example, multiple areas, spaces or rooms could be provided connected together with doors within the cabin to provide access to separate features, such as a separate drying space. Similarly, the swimsuit dryer feature could be located externally to the cabin or connected in some other way. Furthermore, different variations can be provided containing one or more combinations of a changing space, sterilization/disinfection, shower, swimsuit dryer, clothes hanging, locker, UV light, and hot air dryer. One skilled in the art will appreciate that cabins can be constructed containing some of the foregoing features without requiring all of the foregoing features.

Furthermore, various features can be provided in compact size together in a single room or two rooms, or if space permits, the features could be provided and separated in multiple rooms. In another variation, the cabin can be portable and constructed of light material, such as plastic or resin.

FIGS. 2 to 4 illustrate one example of a two-room or two-area cabin. In this example embodiment there can be seen example locations of a hairdryer 10, hanger 12, mirror 14, swimsuit dryer 16, hinged wooden seat 18, a UV light 20 and a perforated metal floor 22 in the first room. The second room shows a linear air nozzle 24, disinfection spraying 26, water shower nozzles 28, body shampoo dispenser 30, stainless steel sheeting or Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) facing on the inside 32, aluminum or GFRP facing on the outside 34, a control command panel 36, disinfection tube 38, hair shampoo dispenser 40, aluminum structure studs 42, a perforated floor made of stainless steel 44 and a sliding glass door 46. Also shown is an evacuation tube 48 under or beside the cabin and a disinfection unit 50 for holding disinfectant and a fan 52 in the ceiling or the cabin. Not shown is an optional conditioner dispenser. A rain shower 54 or similar water dispenser may be provided in the ceiling of the shower compartment. The front door 56 may be painted glass or any other type of door enclosure.

As shown in FIG. 4, a sliding glass door 46 or similar door can be provided around the shower compartment. In addition, linear air nozzles 60 may be provided for a mechanical ventilation system that provides pressurized hot air to the hair and body. Disinfection nozzles 62 may be arranged to disinfect the shower compartment once the user is finished. A hanger 12 mechanism may be provided in the entry compartment for hanging clothing, along with a hairdryer 10 and mirror 14. Joists 64 may be provided under the cabin for support.

The cabin should be tall enough for a person to comfortably enter and shower. Example heights could range between 2.7 to 3.0 meters high. The internal width should be comfortable for use. Example internal widths could range from 0.8 meters to 1.5 meters wide.

The control command panel can be programmed to control various aspects of the cabin. For example, the control command panel may control one or more of the shower settings, disinfection use, UV settings, air dryer settings, the swimsuit dryer, shampoo quantity limits, conditioner quantity limits, body wash quantity limits, massage settings and ventilation.

FIG. 5 illustrates stages of a user entering and using the cabin. In the first stage 66, a user is standing outside the front door 58. In the second stage 68, a user enters the first compartment 74 and changes from dry clothing into a swimsuit. After swimming, the user enters the first compartment 74, removes his or her wet bathing suit and places the wet bathing suit in the swimsuit dryer. In the third stage 70, the user enters the shower compartment 76 and uses the control panel to enable the waterflow. The user has various washing tools available, such as shampoo, conditioner and body wash. After the user is finished with the water, the user may use the control panel to enable a drying mode in the shower compartment 76 by running the air nozzles. Temperatures of water and air may be controlled by the user on the control panel. In the fourth stage 72, once the user exits the shower compartment 76 and returns to the first compartment 74, the control panel either automatically or manually by the user enables disinfection spray through the disinfection nozzles. The user may retrieve his or her swimsuit from the swimsuit dryer and don his or her clothing from the hanger in the first compartment. A disinfection spray or may also be provided in the first compartment for use after each user is finished with the cabin.

It will be appreciated that while these components are shown within only two rooms, spaces or areas, multiple rooms, spaces or areas can be joined together if space permits. Similarly, while these example illustrations show all of the features, a cabin can be provided with only some of the features, such as providing only disinfection, shower space and changing space without the additional features. While the air nozzles, disinfection spray nozzles, water nozzles and ceiling shower nozzles have been illustrated with a specific configuration, it will be appreciated that variations within the arrangement, layout and style of these elements could exist without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Similarly, while the control panel has been illustrated as existing within the shower compartment, it will be appreciated that the control panel could alternatively be found within the first compartment, or multiple control panels could be provided. While a sliding door has been illustrated between the first compartment and the shower compartment, any suitable door or separation could be provided, such as a shower curtain, or no door at all, if desired.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole. The amounts, sizes and examples discussed herein are for example purposes only and should not limit the scope of the claims or variants thereof which would be understood by a person of skill in the art. 

1. A cabin, comprising: a first enclosed area containing a dry space; a second enclosed area connected to the first area through a door and providing a shower area; and a control system for controlling settings of the cabin.
 2. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the control system controls one or more of shower settings, disinfection use, UV settings, air dryer settings, swimsuit dryer, shampoo quantity limits, conditioner quantity limits, body wash quantity limits, massage settings and ventilation.
 3. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the first enclosed area further comprises one or more of a swimsuit dryer, hairdryer, clothes hanger, mirror and hinged wooden seat.
 4. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the second enclosed area further comprises one or more of a shampoo dispenser, conditioner dispenser and bodywash dispenser.
 5. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the second enclosed area further comprises one or more air nozzles, wherein the control system controls the settings of the air nozzles.
 6. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the second enclosed area further comprises one or more disinfection spray nozzles, wherein the control system controls the settings of the disinfection spray nozzles.
 7. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the first enclosed area further comprises a perforated floor.
 8. The cabin of claim 1 wherein the second enclosed area further comprises a perforated floor.
 9. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising a door separating the first enclosed area from the second enclosed area.
 10. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising a disinfection system comprising disinfection tubes, a disinfection unit containing disinfectant, and disinfectant nozzles.
 11. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising one or more evacuation tubes.
 12. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising a ceiling fan.
 13. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising a water dispensing system comprising water tubes, ceiling shower nozzles, and wall shower nozzles.
 14. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising a hollow perimeter wall encompassing a portion of the perimeter of the cabin, the wall comprising studs, an interior wall, an exterior wall and tubes for transporting water, air and disinfectant through to the interior wall.
 15. The cabin of claim 14 wherein the interior wall and exterior wall are made of metal.
 16. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising a perforated floor made of metal.
 17. The cabin of claim 1 further comprising an ultraviolet lamp. 